Leaking Leather diff Pinion Seal

[keynsham]

I had a leaking pinion seal so I replaced It. The car is not being driven at the moment as I am working on it. The seal immediately started leaking. I was led to believe that the leak was coming from around the edge of the seal where it fits into the housing. So I replaced the seal and installed the new one with a lot of sealant around the edge.

The new seal I bought was a leather one. I decided to use it though and duly soaked in in oil for 24 hours first. I now find I still have a leak. after a few days there is fresh oil on the bottom of the diff and a few drips on the floor. The car still hasn't been driven. So I am grabbing at straws a little now but do leather seals need to be used and effectively 'run in' to 'bed in' and could the leak now be around the seal itself as it has so far not been used?

The leather did seem quite hard and I was wondering if it needs to be bedded into seal properly?

[phillpot]

Leather seal? Guessing you have an older TVR?

Is there a groove worn in the flange where the seal runs? Is there an "upgrade" to a rubber seal?

With some final drive units you can get oil coming down the splines between the pinion shaft and the flange.